LEXINGTON, Ky., Nov. 13 (UPI) -- Eric Bledsoe scored 24 points Friday, helping No. 5 Kentucky and Coach John Calipari pick up a 75-59 victory over Morehead State.
Calipari made his debut as coach of the Wildcats, having left Memphis to take over a team that missed the NCAA Tournament last season for the first time in 18 years.
Kentucky fired Billy Gillispie after the disappointing campaign and hired Calipari away from Memphis, where his teams had won 30 games for four straight years.
The Wildcats led by only eight points at halftime. Bledsoe, however, produced 22 of his points in the second period and Kentucky steadily pulled away.
Patrick Patterson added 20 points and 12 rebounds for Kentucky and Darnell Dodson had 15. Freshman John Wall, one of Kentucky's highly regarded recruits, sat out the contest under a two-game suspension. The school determined Wall had accepted improper benefits from his former AAU coach.
Morehead State, the defending Ohio Valley Conference Tournament champion, was led by Kenneth Faried with 17 points. The Eagles shot just 38.5 percent.
